Sahih al-Bukhari 3658
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 62: Companions of the Prophet · "If I were to take Khalil ..."
Narrated `Abdullah bin Abi Mulaika:
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ ، قَالَ كَتَبَ أَهْلُ الْكُوفَةِ إِلَى ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فِي الْجَدِّ. فَقَالَ أَمَّا الَّذِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُهُ ". أَنْزَلَهُ أَبًا يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ.
The people of Kufa sent a letter to Ibn Az-Zubair, asking about (the inheritance of) (paternal) grandfather. He replied that the right of the inheritance of (paternal) grandfather is the same as that of father if the father is dead) and added, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, ' If I were to take a Khalil from this nation, I would have taken him (i.e. Abu Bakr).